4 Tips to Stay Ahead in Digital Marketing

Keep learning, networking and crowing about your own successesWith all the forms of digital marketing that are out there�mobile apps and sites, podcasts, digital TV and radio and digitized versions of traditional media�how can you stay ahead of the curve as digital marketing evolves? The solution is to design your own ongoing education one step at a time. That way, when the right job opens up, you�re at the ready�with a whole slate of skills, connections and ideas to offer your future employer.

Read on for four great ways to get going.

1. Join a LinkedIn GroupFor a director who�s aspiring to a C-level position, LinkedIn is one of the best places to make connections. Nearly one quarter of all Fortune 500 C-level execs have a profile there, and joining a group is one of the fastest ways to handpick virtual mentors and role models in your industry. A couple to try: Digital Marketing or Digital Marketing: Social Media, Search, Mobile and More.

2. Attend a Digital Marketing ConferenceThere�s a digital marketing conference for just about every skill and niche, so pick the one that feeds your creativity and goals. Check out Pubcon for exposure to cutting-edge technology, new internet marketing strategies, social media marketing and more.

For a content creation deep dive, visit the Copyblogger Authority Rainmaker conference, featuring a host of online marketing experts who cover topics like design, content, traffic and conversion. Another great option is &Then (formerly DMA15), which brings a variety of marketing gurus together to share ideas and make connections.

3. Track Your SuccessesYou could be a leading digital marketer in your company, but with nothing to prove it, you�re no different than your equally ambitious co-workers. Whether you�re selling your own product on the side or taking charge of an exceptionally challenging task at your day job, save your stats, feedback, email correspondence and other documentation that show you�re making a difference. Later, you�ll be able to leverage this in a job interview to prove you�ve got what it takes to grow a brand and connect with audiences.

4. Brush Up on Your SkillsIdentify which of your skills need work, and hone them. A great way to improve is by taking a class. One to try is Mediabistro�s online course Fundamentals of Digital Marketing; you�ll learn how to integrate digital marketing into a brand�s overall strategy, develop a content strategy and more.

Media Bistro is a job board and career resource for media, marketing and advertising professionals.